Cultivator-wheel adjustment



0. W. HOWARD.

, CULTIVATOR WHEEL ADJUSTMENT.

APPLICATION man OCT. 7, 1912. RENEWED MAY 31,1916.

1 46,318, 7 Patented July 13 1920.

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O. W. HOWARD. CULTIVATOR WHEEL ADJUSTMENT. APPLICATION FILED ocr. 7. 1912. RENEWED MAY 3!.1916- Patented July 13, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS W. HOWARD, OF M CJLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO DEERE & COMPANY, OF'

MOLINE, ILLINOI$, A, CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CUL'II'V'ATOR-WHEEL ADJUSTMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Application filed October 7, 1912, Serial 110.224 .353. Renewed May 31, 1916. Serial No. 100,967.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, One W. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cultivator- Wheel Adjustments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My inventionrelates to wheeled cultivators, and particularly to means employed for adjustmentof the supporting wheels.

The object of my invention is to provide a cultivator having adjustable supporting wheels with'both pitch and gather, and to provide means by which the pitch and gather can be adjusted to a desired degree and the pitch and gather retained constant during the adjustment of the supporting wheels either forward or rearward.

Referring to the drawings in which similar numerals indicate identical parts- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a cultivator frame in which the seat and its support has been omitted. Fig; 2 is a plan of the cultivator-frame complete. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 00-50 of 2. Fig. l is a detail, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 1 of Fig. 2.

1n implements of this class, a pitch and gather to the wheels is a feature of material 7 advantage, adding considerably to the life of the machlne by lessening wear of the parts and decreasing the draft. The pitch and gather of the wheels should be preserved and 1ts degree regulated, and to accomplish this I employ the following mechanism: The main-frame of the cultivator consists of side-bars 1 and 2, upon the rear ends of which is secured a seat-bar 3 with a seat 1 mounted thereon. The forward ends of the side-bars 1 and 2 converge to a pole iron 5 to which they are rigidly attached. The pole 6 extends rearwardly from the pole iron 5, its rearward end being secured to a bar 7 which forms part of the frame, extending laterally thereof, and bolted to the side-bars 1 and 2.

The main-frame is rigidly bolted or otherwise secured to castings 8. A bent cross-bar orpreferably tubular member 9 has its end portions adjustably held in the castings 8 by means of collars 10 and set-screws 11, the

cross-bar "9 is the upper portion 12 of a crank-axle having a vertical portion 13 and a lower portion 1 1, the portions 12 and let being preferably parallel and at right angles wlth the vertical portion 13. The portion 12 of each of the cranlcaxles is held in position in the cross-barf) by a collar 15 which is secured on the portion 12 by a set screw or bolt 16, each collar 15 engaging with a recess 17 in the castings 8. Supportingwheels are ournaled on the lower portion 1 1 of each crank-axle.

Supported on brackets 18, on converging portion of the frame-bars 1 and 2, is a bar 19, preferably tubular; each of the brackets 18 base rearwardly projecting arm 20 in which is journaled a rocking-bar 21 having depending-end portions 21 bent substantially at a right angle thereto, and pivotally connected with links 22 which extend rearwardly and are pivotally attached to castings 23 secured on the lower portion of the vertical part 13 of each crank-axle.

On one of the side-bars of the main-frame, in this instance the side-bar 2, is pivoted a hand-lever 24, convenient to the seat 4, and having the portion below the pivot bent downwardly and connected by a link 25 with an end portion .21 of the rocking-bar 21.

The hand-lever 241 is provided with the usual latch and dog to engage with a segment 26.

The supporting-wheels are mounted on the machine with a downward gather or pitch, as shown in the drawings, therefore the tread of each wheel is at an angle to the ground; the'weight of the driver, however, through the resiliency of the cross pipe 9 and the crank-axles, practically eliminates the pitch, the wheels then are liable to flare outwardly through the power of the draft, and it is necessary to provide a forward gather of the wheels to overcome this flaring tendency, to preserve lightness of draft and durability of the parts. As previously stated the crossbar 9 is bent, and as mounted on the machine the bend is upward; when the bend is in a vertical plane, the downward gather or pitch of the supportingwheels is at a maximum, and no gather of the wheels forwardly could result, converselyjt followsthat if the cross-barf) was adjusted rearwardly so that the bend would be in a horizontal plane, any downward gather or pitch of the supporting-wheels would be absent and the forward gather would'be at its greatest degree. I find inpractice that by adjusting the cross-bar 9 so that it willhave a rearward inclination, at an angle to a transverse vertical plane of the main f 'ame, as shown in the drawings,

and more particularly in' Fig. 3, I secure 7 the best results. The cross-bar is adjusted to the desired position by loosening the set wardly and forwardly will rock the crank-f axles, moving the supporting-wheels rear. wardly, and the weight of the driver forwardly, preserving the balance of the 1mplement without disturbing either theft)?- ward gather or the downward pitchofithe.

supporting-wheels which is constant {after adjustment is once made. The w1dth between the supporting-wheels can be varied by turning the bolts 16 ui1til the part 12 of the crank-axles is free to be movedlaterally of the machine, to the desired adjustment where it is secured by tightening the bolts 16. It will benoted that the crank-axles are identically alike and are'consequently interchangeable.

What I claim is+ V 1, In a cultivator, the combination of a ,main frame, crank axles having upper and I lower portions substantially parallel to each 7 other, the upper portions or the crank axles supported on the main frame angular to the hor zontal plane of the mam frame, and supporting wheelson the lower 'port1ons of.

the crank axles.

In a cultivator, the combination of a main frame, crank axles haying upper and lower portions substantially parallel 'to each other, the upper portions of the crank axles supported on the main frame angular to, a

' transverse vertical plane of themain frame, and supporting wheels on the lower portions of the crank axles.

3. Ina cultivator, the combination of a.

7 main frame, crank axles having upper and lower portionssubstantially parallel to each other, the upper portions of the crank axles supported onfthe mainframe angular tothe horizontal plane of the main, frame and angular to a transverse vertical planef of he m in rame. an inre ng' he l on the lowerportions of the crank axles.-

. 41,-, In a cultivator, the combination of a main frame, crank axles having upper and lower portions substantially parallel'to each other, the upper portions of the crank axles.

ri e-tally nrerte maths ma n ame, an:

gular to the horizontal plane of the main frame, supporting wheels on the lower portions of the crank axles, and a. lever operable to &Cl]l1Stl3h6 crank. axles forwardly and rearwardly relatively to the main frame.

5. In a cultivator, the combination of a main frame, crank axles having upper and lower portions substantially parallel toeach other, the upper portions of the crank axles pivotally supported onthe main'frameangular to the horizontal plane of the main frame and angular to a transverse'vertical plane of the main frame, supporting wheels on the lower portions of the crank axles,

I and a lever operable to adjust the crank axles forwardly and rearwardly relatively to the main frame. r 1

6. In a cultivator, the combination of a main frame, crank axles having upper and lower portions substantially parallel with each other, supporting. wheelsion the lower portions of the crank axles,- the upper portions of the crank axles pivotally supported on the main frame angular to the horizontal plane of the main frame whereby the wheels are given a downward pitch, and-a lever operable to adjust the crank axles forwardly and rearwardly, the pitch remaining constant during said adjustment. i

7. In a cultivatonthe combinationof a main frame, crank axles having upper and lower portions substantially parallel with each other, supporting wheels on the lower portions of the crank axles, the upper portions ofthe crank axles pivotally supported on the main frame angular to a transverse vertical plane of the main frame whereby the wheels are given a forward gather, and

a lever operable to adjust the crank axles forwardly and rearwardly, the gather re i g q t m r ng aid a justment 8. In a cultivator having in combination a main frame, a bent tubular cross bar adjustably mounted on the main frame, crank axles journaled in said cross bar and having upper and lower portions substantially parallel, supporting wheels mounted on the lower portions. of the crank axles, and a lever operable to rock said crank axle to move said supporting wheels forwardly or rearwardly,sa1d cross bar adaptedto be adjusted te gather sa d wheelsforwardly, said gather being constant during the forward or rearward adjustment of said supporting wheels. v 9. In av cultivator having in combination a mainframe, a bent tubular cross bar ad justably mounted on the main frame crank axles 30urnaled in said cross, bar and having upper and lower portions substantially parallel, supporting wheels mounted on the lower portions of, thecrank axles, and a lever operableto rock saidcrank axles to move said supporting wheels forwardlynr rear? w n adne en s bead crank axles journaled in said cross bar and having upper and lower portions substantially parallel, supporting wheels mounted on the lower portions of the crank axles, and a lever operable to rock said crank axles to move said supporting wheels forwardly or rearwardly, said cross bar adapted to be adjusted to gather said wheels forwardly and to give them a downward pitch,

said gather and pitch being constant during the forward or rearward adjustment of said supporting wheels.

11. In a cultivator having in combination a main farm, a bent tubular cross bar adj ustably mounted on the :main frame, crank axles adjustably journaled in said cross bar, each crank axle having upper and lower portions substantially parallel and at right angles to the central portion, supporting-wheels mounted on the lower portions of the crank axles, a rocking bar suitably journaled on the main frame and having depending end portions, links connecting said depending end portions with the crank axles, and a lever mounted on the main frame and connected with said rocking arm to operate the latter to move the supporting wheels forward or rearward.

12. In a cultivator having a main frame, the combination with a bent tubular cross bar extending from one side of the cultivator to the other, crank axles having upper and lower portions, the upper portions of said crank axles journaled in the ends of the tubular cross bar, supporting wheels on the lower portions of said axles, and a lever operable to gather said wheels forwardly by adjustment of the cross bar.

In a cultivator having a main frame, the combination with a bent tubular cross bar extending from one side of the cultivator to the other, crank axles having upper and lower portions, the upper portions of said crank axles journaled in the ends of the tubular cross bar, supporting wheels on the lower portions of said axles, said cross bar adapted to be adjusted to give said wheels a downward pitch.

14. In a cultivator having a main frame, the combination with a bent tubular cross bar extending from one side of the cultivator to the other, crank axles having upper and lower portions, the upper portions of said crank axles journaled in the ends of the tubular cross bar, supporting wheels on the lower portions of said axles and gathered forwardly, said cross bar adapted to be adjusted to give said wheels a forward gather and a downward pitch.

15. In a cultivator having a main frame, the combination with a bent tubular cross bar extending from one side of the cultivator to the other, the central portion of said cross bar being higher than the ends, crank axles having upper and lower portions, the upper portions of said crank axles journaled in the ends of the tubular cross bar, supporting wheels on the lower portions ofsaid axle, said cross bar adapted to be adjusted to gather said wheels forwardly.

16. In a cultivator having a main frame, the combination with a bent tubular cross bar extending from one side of the cultivator to the other, the central portion of said cross bar being higher than the ends, crank axles having upper and lower portions, the upper portions of said crank axles journaled in the ends if the tubular cross bar, supporting wheels on the lower portions of said axle, said cross bar adapted to be adjusted to give said wheels a downward pitch.

17. In a cultivator having a main frame, the combination with a bent tubular cross bar extending from one side of the cultivator to the other, the central portion of said cross bar being higher than the ends, crank axles having upper and lower portions, the upper portions of said crank axles iournaled in the ends of the tubular cross bar, supporting wheels on the lower portions of said axle, said cross bar adapted to be adjusted to give said wheels a forward gather and a downward pitch.

18. Ina cultivator having a main frame, the combination with a bent tubular cross bar adj ustably mounted thereon and extending from one side of the cultivator to the other, the central portion of said cross bar being higher than the ends, crank axles having upper and lower portions, the upper portions of said crank axles journaled in the ends of the tubular cross bar, supporting wheels on the lower portion of said axles, and a lever operable to swing the axles forwardly or rearwardly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' OTIS W. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

BERTHA A. MAURER, WAYNE G. DUFFTELD. 

